The Athlete's Lawyer

While sports injury lawyer Doug Landau is frequently contacted to help an injured runner or biker, even in cases where the driver or other party is at fault, if there is no coverage or ability to pay for the harms caused, then it may not be a wise move to  go forward with a claim.  In other words, even if the ABRAMS LANDAU trial team wins the case, if no recovery can be made for the injured athlete, then it may not be a smart move to litigate the matter.  Recently, the question came up, if a runner is run over by biker, is there insurance coverage to pay for the injuries and losses sustained ?

While the automobile insurance probably would not pay, since the accident did not involve “a motor vehicle,” the defendant driver’s homeowner’s insurance policy may be a source of funds to pay for the damages.  And in a case where a bike crashes into another bike, the homeowners insurance may also be able to pay for the harms caused by the careless or negligent rider.  Absolutely.  Even renter’s liability insurance may be collectible in a case brought against a careless bike rider who causes serious personal injury to a runner, biker or other person on the road, bike path or sidewalk.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a bicycle, running or pedestrian accident or an insurance company is denying their injury claim, please e-mail or call us at ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. (703-796-9555) at once, as it is very important to investigate these cases as soon as possible after the crash.

USAT CEO Skip Gilbert and Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau at the USAT Duathlon natinal Championsips in Richmond, Virginia

As a Sprint Triathlon and Aquathon All American, as well as an Olympic Distance Honorable Mention award winner, Herndon multisport athlete and attorney Doug Landau feels that it is important to support the national governing body and the people who volunteer their time so that races can be conducted safely.  Over the years, Lawyer Landau has contributed to become a “gold member,” directed, sponsored and volunteered at athletic events.

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon – one of the fastest growing sports in the world – as well as duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 3,100 races and connects with more than 133,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USAT provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Championships, Pan American Games and the Summer Olympic Games.

Doug Landau after the finish of the Ovarian Cancer 5k

How can Doug Landau be 7th across the finish line and yet end up 5th over all ? With computer chip timing, Landau’s “chip time” was good enough for 4th male, 5th overall and an age group first place at the “Silence on Ovarian Cancer” 5k.  The Triathlon Trial Lawyer missed the start by 30 seconds, and then ran as he would a duathlon competition, trying to catch as many of those in front of him as he could before the finish line !

Finish line celebration at Reston Town Center this morning

Meghan Ridgley of Reston, Virginia  repeated as the women’s winner in 18:32.  Even more impressive was the fact that she was also the overall winner !  Running just under 6 minutes per mile, Ms. Ridgley was chased by several hundred men all trying to be first across the line at the Reston Town Center fountain.  The Reston Potomac River Running Store star ran a great race and will likely be at the front of many summer races this season.

This race is more a victory celebration for survivors and memorial for loved ones who have succumbed.  Ovarian cancer can sneak up and quickly take a life.  At least two dozen women who have survived ran in the event.  Nearly one thousand participants were treated to a bright spring morning after some morning rain and heavy winds.

After DUathlon Nationals, TriathlonTrialLawyer Doug Landau went to a spin class and learned of SportFit's FREE triathlon cycling seminar TODAY at Worldgate Sport & Health

As part of the 2010 SportFit TRIATHLON CLINIC SERIES Doug & Beth Baumgarten will once again hold a free clinic at the Worldgate Sport & Health Club in Herndon, Virginia.  If you are a first time (or novice) triathlete or an experienced multisport competitor, SPORTFIT LAB is a source for information on training, equipment, and race preparation.   Educational and bike safety seminars such as produced by the Baumgartens will hopefully increase the skills of participants in local triathlons, duathlons and bike races, and decrease the number of bike crashes, athletic injuries and sports accidents.  The husband and wife team has scheduled concise 90-minute sessions for athletes learn the latest science of triathlon training.

NEXT CLINIC: FRIDAY MAY 7th- 5:30-7:00 P.M. AT SPORTFIT LAB (Worldgate):

“THE BIKE IN TRIATHLON”

For more information, contact: SPORTFIT CONSULTING LLC of Northern Virginia

Email: db@sportfitconsulting.com   Phone: 703-657-7609   Mobile: 301-448-5499   Fax: 888-750-2869

W&OD Trail patrol member visits Thursday Farmers Market in Herndon, just down the street from the Landau Law Shop

While visiting the Herndon Thursday morning Farmers Market down the street from our buildings, I spotted a cyclist in a yellow “Trail Patrol” outfit.  While I and others from the Landau Law Shop had helped to clean the trail and volunteered as course marshals for running and bicycling events on this wonderful path, I did not know that there were official “Trail Patrol” members, as well as the Herndon police, on 2 wheels !

Neal was kind enough to share with me “W&OD Trail Rules and Guidelines” on cards in English and Spanish, so that I could help educate Trail users and continue to promote rider, runner, skater, cross country skier, roller blader, skate boarder and walker safety on this Northern Virginia Regional Park path.  Because we represent injured athletes, victims of car crashes, disabled cyclists and battered bikers, at ABRAMS LANDAU we see the devastation unsafe driving and cycling can cause.  Following up last week’s “ringing the bell for safety,” I intend to have these cards at the Reston Bike Club ride sign up table tonight !   In addition to Trail clean up and sponsorship, the Friends of the W&OD have programs and personnel serving Northern Virginia.  You can reach the W&OD Trail office at WOD@NVRPA.org or (703-729-0596)

Doug Landau, WITH HIS SHOES, the day before his now infamous "bare footed effort" at the USAT National Duathlon Championships

After his bare foot 5k effort at the USAT Duathlon National Championships, Doug Landau got e-mails, calls and “shout outs” from other multisport athletes.  Some, who saw the Triathlon Trial Lawyer “in action” in Richmond, wrote him afterwards.  Others, seeing his bike split time, wondered if the Herndon, Reston and Dulles Airport region injury lawyer got lost on the National Duathlon Festival race course !   Even his out of state family members wondered if he had been in a bike crash, sustained a sports injury or broken his racing bicycle or helmet.

• One athlete wrote, “If you’re the Doug Landau who was totally kick-ass at yesterday’s Duathlon National Championships–by running barefoot at 7-minute pace after you flatted–I’d love to be your friend. I’ve been telling everybody about you. Hope you’re not any worse the wear and tear for your amazing effort.”
• Another sent this message, “Looks like you had good runs – but did something happen on the bike ?”
• Lastly, “You are my hero. Seeing your response to the bad luck of a flat is a big part of what multi-sport is to me. You get to learn what you’re made of–or, as in your case–you can see what others are made of, too. Hats off. I’m sure I’ll be thinking of you as I swim those icy waters of SF Bay. Never say die.  And just keep going, no matter what.  Thanks for the inspiration. Best of luck in your season.”

Many bikers commuting on "Bike to Work Day" will go right past the Herndon Reston Sterling area Landau Law Shop

It’s free, it’s fun and it’s physical !  “Bike to Work Day” is in 3 weeks.  Join thousands of area commuters and Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau for a celebration of bicycling as a clean, fun and healthy way to get to work!  There rate 35 regional pit stops, with SWAG, mechanics and riders of all levels.  Try a ride into the city with experienced commuter convoys and meet your fellow cyclists at Freedom Plaza.  Washington Area Bicyclist Association and Commuter Connections invite you to try bicycling to work as an alternative to solo driving. Help the Washington region become a better place to ride, a cleaner environment and a healthier community.  Bike to Work Day is a FREE event and open to all area commuters.  The ABRAMS LANDAU sports injury lawyer has participated a number of times, and Doug Landau enjoys the camaraderie, mechanical check ups and the freebies.  There will be a raffle, prizes, food, drink and more at all pit stops throughout the region.  Free T-shirts will available for the first 8,500 registrants who are in attendance at the pit stop they registered for in advance.  Registration for Bike to Work Day 2010 is now open!
Click on the pit stop link and register for the pit stop rally you plan to attend.  Raffles will be held at each pit stop for prizes including commuter bags, bike locks, and bicycles.

Standing above the USAT DUathlon National Championship transition area, Doug Landau is happy to have finished the race without injury or crashing after hitting a bridge joint that caused a flat tire and the Triathlon Trial Lawyer to RUN the last 3 miles of the bike course - BAREFOOT !

When you’re  competing at the national championship level, every second counts.  In order to be one of the fastest multi-sport athletes, Herndon injury lawyer Doug Landau practices dismounting from his bike and immediately running at top speed.  The Triathlon Trial Lawyer also practices getting in and out of his bike shoes, which are attached to his racing bike pedals, without crashing or causing injury, while going 20 mph so as not to lose time in the transition area of a Duathlon or Triathlon.   At last year’s BRATS Vint Hill sprint triathlon in Warrenton, he finished 4th overall by less than one second ! So at this year’s National Duathlon Festival, when Landau’s bike flatted on the third and final lap, rather than quit (never an option), wait for a ride (and disqualification) or walk, he instead opted to keep from going hypothermic and ran across the Lee Bridge.  When he approached the finish line area, he was greeted with:

• “You’re supposed to ride the bike !”
• “You got off too soon, the transition area is 600 yards ahead !”
• “Where are your shoes ?”

Landau got out of his shoes and ran about 3 miles barefoot before he could get into the transition area.  He kept his bike helmet on, as USAT Rules mandate disqualification for removing your helmet before your bicycle is safely racked in its numbered sport.  So the Herndon Reston Triathlon lawyer looked quite foolish running down the street toward the spectators in his aerodynamic racing helmet with no shoes or socks !  However, Landau avoided injury due to his barefoot training and managed to finish in just under 2 hours.

Bikers get ready tosort themselves into groups 1-5 & start out on a Thursday night Reston Bike Club ride in Herndon

Instead of riding with the Reston Bike Club tonight, Doug Landau went, cowbell and bicycle helmets in hand, to speak to the assembled cyclists about safety, crashes, speeding, stopping and avoiding peleton accidents and car crashes.  Landau showed the bikers smashed helmets from cases he has won on behalf of injured cyclists and asked them to keep their speed reasonable on the W&OD Trail, where pedestrians, strollers, joggers and bladders would be foreseeably encountered.

The ABRAMS LANDAU sports injury lawyer furthermore suggested that the faster bike riders use the Trail portion of the evening workout as their “warm up” before hitting speeds of 20-30 mph on the open roads of Loudoun County.  While other cyclists and runners had talked about “near misses” and accidents on the Trail, Landau was willing to “bell the cat.”  The Triathlon Trial Lawyer was thanked for his remarks by the Reston Bike Club President and other safety conscious bikers.  While sports injury lawyer Landau will not likely ever win a popularity contest among competitive road cyclists nor a bicyclists’ fashion show, safety on the roads and trails of Herndon is important.  These popular Thursday night rides start within sight of the Landau Law Shop; so we hope that our friends and training partners will not have to use our first aid, nursing or other bike crash accident and injury related offerings.

As one who enjoys running barefoot on the beach, and who listens to an iPod when running off the roads, sports injury lawyer Doug Landau was taken aback by the news reports of the death of a runner in Hilton Head, South Carolina.  Apparently the ipod jogger was running along the beach  with his iPod when a plane making an emergency landing hit him from behind, killing him instantly.

According to news reports, the 38-year-old father of two was on a business trip in Hilton Head Island, when a Lancair IV-P single-engine aircraft lost its propeller and was “basically gliding” Monday evening before hitting Jones, according to the coroner.  “There’s no noise,” said aviation expert Mary Schiavo, a former inspector general for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). “So the jogger, with his ear buds in, and the plane without an engine, you’re basically a stealth aircraft. Who would expect to look up?”

The pilot and his passenger walked away from the crash landing near the Hilton Head Marriott Resort and Spa.  This jogger’s death is uncommon, but not unheard of: last year a Philadelphia jogger using an iPod died when a tree fell on her.  Hard to say whether volume control might have saved him, but it is worth thinking about.  One of the reasons Herndon Reston injury lawyer Doug Landau does not run on roads with cars or trucks with his iPod covering his ears is that he cannot hear motorized vehicles that are traveling behind him.  On the beach, turf fields, trails and track, there is less danger from getting injured by drivers you don’t hear coming, or so the ABRAMS LANDAU injured athletes lawyer thought…